UMD international students on the move to Fall River

FALL RIVER — The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will move its international student program this fall to the Cherry & Webb building in downtown Fall River, university officials announced Wednesday.

Comment

By BRIAN FRAGA

southcoasttoday.com

By BRIAN FRAGA

Posted Jun. 12, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By BRIAN FRAGA

Posted Jun. 12, 2014 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

FALL RIVER — The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth will move its international student program this fall to the Cherry & Webb building in downtown Fall River, university officials announced Wednesday.

UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Divina Grossman said the program will bring 100 students, faculty and staff to the downtown, where they will be encouraged to patronize local restaurants and businesses.

"This is a win-win for UMass Dartmouth and the Fall River community as these students will have the opportunity to experience a great American city while taking classes. And the downtown economy will be strengthened by the influx of new consumers," Grossman said in prepared remarks.

Kenneth Fiola Jr., executive vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, said the influx of the international students will have a "great financial impact" on the downtown's restaurants and cafes.

"UMass deserves a lot of credit for thinking creatively to address the needs of its international student base as well as the economic interests of the downtown," Fiola said.

The international student program — managed by Navitas, the university's international education partner — will be located in the Cherry & Webb building's second floor at 139 S. Main St. Navitas currently has 150 students enrolled in its UMass Dartmouth program. The program in Fall River is projected to grow to 250 students over the next few years, officials said.

UMass Dartmouth spokesman John Hoey said the university's international program outgrew its prior space on the Dartmouth campus. He said university officials examined their options and considered the Cherry & Webb space — the university already leases 15,000 square feet on the second floor — to be ideal.

"They will be located in the middle of an American city. They're going to be experiencing America," Hoey said.

The international students will live on the Dartmouth campus, and be transported five days a week to the Fall River facility, where they will spend most of their day in classes but also have downtime to experience the city.

"This is a unique opportunity for international students," said Mary Fleming, executive director of Navitas at UMass Dartmouth.